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Reggae & R&B Cab (and debate about palm muting!)

#41
I'm telling you man, take a look at musicgoround.com, or craigslist. You can find a used Ampeg SVT-410HLF used for under $600. I used to use the Peavey 410TX when I started myself. I upgraded to the Ampeg; it reproduces the lows perfectly, and I have used it with a LMII, it sounds awesome.
I now use it with an Ampeg V4, I'm in love!! But . . . it is NOT a sealed enclosure, so it does sound quite as tight as a sealed cab would. It fits the bill for reggae perfectly, I'm telling you, it really does. As for R&B, I don't see why it wouldn't work, I did some old-school Motown last week, we were doing some Temptations songs, it sounded great to me. We also jammed the Meters song, "Cissy Strut," and it sounded great, never sounded too loose to my ears. It's an awesome cab for Reggae & R&B if you ask me.

As for needing 15's or 18's, that's cool if you think you need it. But check out Robbie Shakespeare's rig right now, on youtube, most of the time you will see him using an Ampeg SVT with an 810E cab, sounds awesome. And you'll see Aston Barrett using an Eden 410XLT, and a 115XLT, I saw him play through this rig live, and it sounded sweet. It has a lot to do with how the box is built around those speakers.
 
#42
BurningSkies said:
Again, I'm saying I've been playing reggae as my main gig for a long time...I've had the great fortune to see many reggae shows, play many and spend time with a variety of artists and bands.

I know what you're talking about, and while it may net you 'a dublike sound', it's not commonly used by reggae musicians. I have a feeling that some of the confusion comes from a type of right hand technique where your plucking fingers mute the strings along with your fretting hand, but it's not a palm mute.

Thanks for the playing tips though. ;)
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just for example....i just so happen to be listening to concrete jungle.....the very first notes that are played in the intro are muted. you can totally tell by how the note decays so much.

heres another example....robbie shakespear layin it down

 
#45
dubstylee said:
I'm telling you man, take a look at musicgoround.com, or craigslist. You can find a used Ampeg SVT-410HLF used for under $600. I used to use the Peavey 410TX when I started myself. I upgraded to the Ampeg; it reproduces the lows perfectly, and I have used it with a LMII, it sounds awesome.
I now use it with an Ampeg V4, I'm in love!! But . . . it is NOT a sealed enclosure, so it does sound quite as tight as a sealed cab would. It fits the bill for reggae perfectly, I'm telling you, it really does. As for R&B, I don't see why it wouldn't work, I did some old-school Motown last week, we were doing some Temptations songs, it sounded great to me. We also jammed the Meters song, "Cissy Strut," and it sounded great, never sounded too loose to my ears. It's an awesome cab for Reggae & R&B if you ask me.

As for needing 15's or 18's, that's cool if you think you need it. But check out Robbie Shakespeare's rig right now, on youtube, most of the time you will see him using an Ampeg SVT with an 810E cab, sounds awesome. And you'll see Aston Barrett using an Eden 410XLT, and a 115XLT, I saw him play through this rig live, and it sounded sweet. It has a lot to do with how the box is built around those speakers.
Click to expand...

I would totally be into Ampeg; but I've had bad experiences with two of their BA combo's in the past, and their customer support is virtually nonexistant. And also; I'm looking for something extremely mobile, and two small amps seems perfect for this situation.
 
#47
BurningSkies said:
Again, I'm saying I've been playing reggae as my main gig for a long time...I've had the great fortune to see many reggae shows, play many and spend time with a variety of artists and bands.

I know what you're talking about, and while it may net you 'a dublike sound', it's not commonly used by reggae musicians. I have a feeling that some of the confusion comes from a type of right hand technique where your plucking fingers mute the strings along with your fretting hand, but it's not a palm mute.

Thanks for the playing tips though. ;)
Click to expand...



theres another.
 
#49
nonogz said:


theres another.
Click to expand...


Yes, yes. You've got it. A couple of clips of Robbie thumbing his way through a few songs and it's a standard technique. ;) I've seen Robbie slap through some songs too...but slap isn't really a standard reggae technique either.

Thumb away at the bridge my friend... As long as you're only playing at about 60 bpm. Feel free to do it all you like. I just hate to see people touting it as a standard technique when its not.

But this is all an aside, as this thread is about cabs and my original comment isn't intended to side track.
 
#50
BA cabs do in fact suck! I have a BA115 right now, and honestly, I hate it. It sounds sterile and the built in amp on the back vibrates with the bass notes. HLF is a different story though, yes it is big, but I don't think it's too heavey. Those smaller cabs won't sound as thick, they're more responsive and hi-fi sounding. Just so you know what you're getting. I don't like hi-fi, but that's me, I try to replicate 70's reggae tones. I use a jazz with heavey fender flats into an all tube ampeg, through a 410HLF, it's straight up DUB to my ears.
 
#54
BurningSkies said:
Yes, yes. You've got it. A couple of clips of Robbie thumbing his way through a few songs and it's a standard technique. ;) I've seen Robbie slap through some songs too...but slap isn't really a standard reggae technique either.

Thumb away at the bridge my friend... As long as you're only playing at about 60 bpm. Feel free to do it all you like. I just hate to see people touting it as a standard technique when its not.

But this is all an aside, as this thread is about cabs and my original comment isn't intended to side track.
Click to expand...


first of all it is a standard technique(for any kind of music)....i've seen it used enough and i use it enough to know. yeah i've seen him slap...i've also seen sly beat on his bass with drum sticks....thats not the same thing. 60 bpm...lol first of all you can play as fast as your ability allows you to play ****BTW...who plays busy reggae basslines???**** if you play too fast the listener doesnt understand what your doing . and its not only your thumb. u use your other fingers as well....the important thing is that you mute. it yields a punchy round sound. very suitable for reggae. try it out on you next gig.....well perfect the technique then try it
 
#55
nonogz said:
60 bpm...lol first of all you can play as fast as your ability allows you to play ****BTW...who plays busy reggae basslines???**** if you play too fast the listener doesnt understand what your doing . and its not only your thumb. u use your other fingers as well....the important thing is that you mute. it yields a punchy round sound. very suitable for reggae. try it out on you next gig.....well perfect the technique then try it
Click to expand...

Now it's my turn to ask you if you're serious. It seems like probably 80% of the live reggae that's around has left behind the slow 70s roots feel behind, or relegated it to a couple cool down numbers per set. Even Third World and the Abyssinians don't play their songs at LP tempo, and that doesn't include the modern dancehall/roots scene. My real favorites are folks like Roots Radics (check out the Charlie Chaplin live in the yard recordings) and Yellow's bassist, Derek...who rip it up with a killer groove (check the Live at Maritime and Live in Paris recordings). It seems that the modern reggae scene is revved up and high energy.
 
#56
BurningSkies said:
Now it's my turn to ask you if you're serious. It seems like probably 80% of the live reggae that's around has left behind the slow 70s roots feel behind, or relegated it to a couple cool down numbers per set. Even Third World and the Abyssinians don't play their songs at LP tempo, and that doesn't include the modern dancehall/roots scene. My real favorites are folks like Roots Radics (check out the Charlie Chaplin live in the yard recordings) and Yellow's bassist, Derek...who rip it up with a killer groove (check the Live at Maritime and Live in Paris recordings). It seems that the modern reggae scene is revved up and high energy.
Click to expand...

to be honest...im not into reggae all that much. there are a select few that really intrigue me though. sly and robbie. steel pulse. family man. there is a new (new to me) group that i've been checkin out. midnite....check out this track

groooooooooveeee.



thats the reggae i love
 
#57
nonogz said:
to be honest...im not into reggae all that much. there are a select few that really intrigue me though. sly and robbie. steel pulse. family man. there is a new (new to me) group that i've been checkin out. midnite....check out this track

groooooooooveeee.



thats the reggae i love
Click to expand...


Midnite is pretty cool. Good show too. Unfortunately we missed a chance to play with them not too long ago. Our drummer couldn't make it. At least I got to go to the show...

If you're really into Sly and Robbie, you should track down the Earth & Stone reissue (Kool Roots). Its a compilation of material, but Robbie plays on a bunch of tracks...it's early enough that you can tell its him, but he hasn't quite locked into they style he became famous for.

BTW...he's one of the guys who made it OK not to play slow and to imply rests rather than emphasize them. His playing on "Botanical Roots" is a good example of that.
 
#58
nonogz said:
first of all it is a standard technique(for any kind of music)....i've seen it used enough and i use it enough to know. yeah i've seen him slap...i've also seen sly beat on his bass with drum sticks....thats not the same thing. 60 bpm...lol first of all you can play as fast as your ability allows you to play ****BTW...who plays busy reggae basslines???**** if you play too fast the listener doesnt understand what your doing . and its not only your thumb. u use your other fingers as well....the important thing is that you mute. it yields a punchy round sound. very suitable for reggae. try it out on you next gig.....well perfect the technique then try it
Click to expand...


haha... are you ****ing kidding? Reggae basslines are very busy. Listen to Swing Easy / Drop Leaf / man there are ton's. Reggae is about the bassline.
 

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